Hair washing sink



F. H. ELLINGER HAIR WASHING SINK 7 March 30, 1943.

Filed Feb. 2, 1942 ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 30, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAIR WASHING SINKFlora H. Ellinger, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 2, 1942, Serial No. 429,247

8 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to improvements in hair washingand rinsing apparatus, and relates more specifically to improvements inthe construction and operation of combined sink and seat fixtures foruse in beauty parlors, barber shops or the like.

Generally define-d, an object of the invention is to provide an improvedsink, especially useful while washing and rinsing hair, which is simplein construction and highly efficient in operation.

When shampooing or washing hair at beauty parlors or barber shops, it isgenerally the practice to apply shampoo or soap to the customers headeither \while the individual is seated in an ordinary barber chair,usually located considerable distance from the rinsing sink, or whilethe customer is seated awkwardly before the sink with his or her headbent thereover. In either case, the individual is provided with an aprontied about the neck and draped over the shoulders for protection againstdripping. After the hair has been adequately soaped' and rubbed, thecustomer is placed before the sink for the hair rinsing operation in oneof two positions, either facing and bent uncomfortably over the sink orfacing away from the sink with the head inclined backwardly over a metaltray shaped to fit into the neck and to conduct the rinsing water awayfrom the head to the sink. Both of these methods of washing and rinsinghair are objectionable since in each case the customer is placed inawkward and uncomfortable positions and even the .provision of an apronor cape does not eifectively prevent soap or water drippings fromtrickling down the individuals neck or on to his or her clothes.Furthermore, the person doing the washing and rinsing must be verycareful not to splash soap and water, and consequently the customershair may not always be thoroughly rinsed of suds.

It is, therefore, a more specific object of the present invention toprovide an improved unitary sink at which a person may be comfortablyseated in normal upright position for hair washing and rinsing withminimum danger of becoming wet during the operation.

A further specific object of my invention is to .provide a combined sinkand seat fixture which may be effectively utilized for both washing andrinsing hair, and which is rigid in construction and highly attractivein appearance.

An additional specific object of this invention is to provide a sinkwhich may be eiiiciently used for numerous purposes, and which may bereadily manufactured, sold and operated at moderate cost.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved sinkassemblage wherein the operator may be conveniently located in closeproximity to the head of the individual .whose hair are'being treated,and within easy reach of the water supply valves and spray head.

These and other specific objects and advantages of my invention will beapparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting my presentimprovement, and of the mode of constructing and of utilizing sinkassemblages built in accordance with my invention, may be had byreferring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of thisspecification wherein like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of one of my improved special sinks; and

Fig.2 is a central vertical section throughthe improved sink unit.

While the invention has been shown herein as being applied to a combinedsink and seat assemblage especially adapted for hair washing purposes inbeauty parlors and barber shops, it is not my desire or intent tothereby unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the improvement.

Referring to the drawing, the improved unitary sink structure comprisesin general, a sink 5 having a relatively deep. and extendeddrainagebasin 6, water supply means including hot and cold water supply .valves1, 8 associated with a central delivery spout 9 and a spray head. Inassociated with the valves 1, 8 by means of a flexible hose I I, and a.seat 12 having a back i3 provided with a head rest I l disposed mediallyof and near the front of the basin 6.

The unitary sink 5 andseat l2 may be supported on legs l5, or it may behung from a wall, and a cushion l6 may be provided for the seat [2. Thesink 5 is also preferably formedwith a recess H at one corner thereof,and the basin 6 extends forwardly on opposite sides of theseat I2 toform drainage. pockets 18 while the sides of the seat l2 are formed withelevated portions 23 adjacent the pockets l8.

The spray head [0 is normally supported in an opening [9 convenientlylocatedv near the water supply valves 1, 8, and the hose H is normallyconcealed beneath the deck of the sink 5. A diverter valve 28 fordivertingthe water supplied through the valves 1, 8 to either the spout9 or' spray head IE) is also provided near the valves 1, 8, and a drain2| is located centrally at the bottom of the basin 6 for conductingspent water therefrom. The bottom of the basin 6 is preferably locatedin approximitely horizontal alinement with the top of the cushion l6,and the head rest [4 extends a considerable distance above the upperopen end of the basin 6. The back l3 of the seat l2 slopes rearwardly,and the upper portion l3 adjacent the head rest [4 is preferablyinclined rearwardly at a greater angle. This formation of the seat l2and basin 6 and location of the water supply valves 1, 8, co-operateswith the corner recess I! to permit the operator to readily reach thecontrol valves and spray head and to conveniently work on the head of anoccupant of-the seat.

The head rest 14 is preferably saddle-shaped to fit the neck of anindividual at the base of V the skull, and may be formed with arelatively resilient supporting surface such as sponge rubber in orderto more rapidly conform to the neck contour and to assure a snugcoaction. So as to permit adjustment of the seat for proper cooperationwith diverse individuals, the head rest l4 may be made verticallyadjustable by mountingthe same on an elongated member 22 which isslidably supported in the back l3 of the seat l2, and themember 22 mayeither be frictionally retained in various positions of adjustment, orit may be provided with the usual ratchet.

' During normal use of the improved sink unit, the individual whose hairis to be washed is first seated in the seat l2, and a flaring protectivecollar of relatively heavy sheeting and having suitable draining groovestherein is fastened about the neck of the occupant with the outer edgeof the collar overlapping and resting upon the elevated portions 23 andthe rest [4 of the seat to effectively conduct excess soap and splashwater to the pockets [8 and basin 6. The provision of a grooved collarof relatively heavy sheeting facilitates drainage of the water to thebasin by reason of the smooth surface thereof, and when the edge of thecollar is resting upon the rest I4 and elevated portion 23' of the seat,the weight on.

the shoulder and neck of the individual is reduced to a minimum. Whilethe occupant is seated comfortably in a natural upright position, theoperator may stand within the corner recess ll of the sink 5 within easyreach of the occupants head and of the flow control valves 1, 8, and andspray head Ill; The individuals head may then be thoroughly soaped orshampooed by the operator with minimum danger of splashing the occupantsclothes or the surrounding floor.

After the soaping operation has been completed, the individuals head maybe swung rearwardly over the basin 6 with his or her neck resting in thesaddle-shaped rest 14 below the collar and this rest may be adjustedvertically to most comfortably fit the particular individual. Therearward inclination of the seat back naturally positions theindividuals head well over the basin 6 for ready handling by theoperator. The operator may then adjust the valves 1, 8 to insure aproper supply of rinsing water at the correct temperature; and when suchproper adjustment has been made, the operator may withdraw the sprayhead ID from its seating I9, adjust the diverter valve 20 to conduct theflow of the water through the spray head, and then proceed to thoroughlyrinse the occupants head over the basin 6 while the spent rinsing waterflows into the basin 6 and down the drain 2|. After the individuals headhas been thus to another.

thoroughly cleansed and the supply valves 1, 8 again closed, the hairmay be dried either at the sink or in another portion of the room, andthe protective collar may then be removed.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be apparent that mypresent invention provides a unitary hair washing sink which is simple,compact and durable in construction, and highly efiicient and flexiblein use. The provision of a cushion for the seat adds to the comfort ofthe individual during the hair washing and rinsing steps, and by virtueof the unitary structure, the entire operation may be performed at thesink and without moving the occupant from one chair The adjustability ofthe saddleshaped rest l4 adds to the efficiency and comfort of the unit,and the formation of a resilient supporting surface on the rest insuresa snug coaction with the individuals neck for further protection againstsoap or water seepage and dripping. V V

The 'sink may be universallyntilized for all normal purposes by virtueof the provision of the corner recess I1, and the diverter valve may bereadily adjusted to admit the water supply independently either throughthe spout 9 or through the universally movable spray head I0independently. The sink may be formed with a re cess IT at one or bothfront corners if desired, and the provision of this recess permitsconvenient access to all of the sink fixtures as well as the occupantshead as already described. The formation of the seat l2 integral withthe sink basin, facilitates manufacture and mounting of the sinkassemblage, and the location of this seat in approximately the samehorizontal plane as the bottom of the basin produces a neat and compactstructure. The collar herein described as being preferably utilized withmy improvedunit may be formed of relatively heavy sheet rubber or othersatisfactory material, and may be provided with a strip of sponge rubberor the like about the neck contacting edge to insure a snug andcomfortable fit.

vIt should be understood that it is not desired to limit this inventionto the exact details of construction, or to the precise mode of use,herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scopeof the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim: 1 1

1. A unitary structure comprising, a sink having a drainage basinprovided with water supply means near the rear thereof, and a seatformed integral with said sink and-having a backprovided with a headrest disposed medially of and near the front of the basin. 1

2. A unitary structure comprising, a sink having a drainage basinprovided with Water supply means near the rear thereof, and a seatformed integral with said sink within the outer confines thereof andhaving a back provided with a head rest disposed medially of and nearthe front of the basin, said structure being indented near one corner ofthe basin to permit an operator to con- Veniently manipulate said watersupply means and to reach said head rest.

3. A unitary structure comprising, a sink having a drainage basinprovided with water supply means near the rear thereof, and a seatformed integral with said sink and having a back provided with a headrest disposed medially of and near the front of the basin, said basinbeing relatively deep and having a bottom disposed in approximately thesame horizontal plane as that of the seat and said head rest projectingabove the upper open end of said basin.

4. A unitary structure comprising, a sink having a drainage basinprovided with water supply means near the rear thereof, and a seatformed integral with said sink and having a back provided with a headrest disposed medially of and near the front of the basin, said headrest being saddle-shaped and being formed with a relatively resilientsupporting surface adapted to snugly engage the neck.

5. A unitary structure comprising, a sink having a drainage basinprovided with water supply means, and a seat formed integral with saidsink and having a rearwardly inclined back, the upper portion of whichis additionally rearwardly inclined with respect to the normal plane ofsaid back.

6. A unitary structure comprising, a sink having a drainage basin andintegral outer side walls, means for supplying water to said sink, and aseat having side arms and a back provided with a neck saddle disposedmedially of and near the front of the basin, said seat being formedentirely from the outer side walls of said sink.

7. A unitary shampoo sink and seat, comprising, a drainage basin havingliquid supply fixtures associated therewith and being provided with aseating recess in one wall having a bifurcated neck engaging saddleadjoining the top of the basin, said basin and seating recess beingformed integral with each other and said basin extending forwardly onopposite sides of said saddle.

8. A unitary shampoo sink and seat, comprising, a relatively deepdrainage basin having liquid supply fixtures associated with the rearwall thereof and being provided with a seating recess in its front wallhaving a bifurcated neck engaging saddle adjoining the upper end of theback of the seat, said basin and said seating recess and said neckengaging saddle being 20 formed integral with each other and said basinextending forwardly on opposite sides of the saddle.

FLORA H. ELLINGER.

